BYU Television (commonly referred to as BYUtv) is a television channel, founded in 2001, operated and funded by Brigham Young University (BYU).[1] The channel, available through cable and satellite distributors in the United States, produces a number of original series and documentaries with emphases in comedy, history, lifestyle, music and drama. BYUtv also regularly broadcasts a number of classic live-action Walt Disney films, classic films from other motion picture studios, nature documentaries, acquired medical/crime dramas and religious programs (consistent with the university's sponsoring organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)).[2][3] Additionally, BYUtv Sports is the primary broadcaster of BYU Cougars athletics, producing more than 125 live sporting events in 2012 alone.[4] The channel has won multiple Emmy Awards,[5] and several of its original series have been praised by national television critics.[6][7][8]

BYUtv broadcasts all of its original content, and most acquired content, worldwide online via its website. BYUtv is also carried through a digital subchannel of KBYU-TV, a PBS member station in Provo, Utah also owned by the university, ensuring HD coverage across Salt Lake City and most of Utah. The channel is one of several operated by the university's BYU Broadcasting division, including the world feed BYUtv Global, BYUradio and the Latin America-focused BYU Television International.

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History

BYUtv was founded in 2001, and has grown from a "relatively unknown cable channel on a single satellite" to a national provider on the Dish Network, DirecTV, and over 600 cable systems in the US.[1]

During 2010 and 2011, newly appointed BYUtv director of content, Scott Swofford, commissioned focus groups targeting TV viewers who were at least nominally religious, to see what they liked, disliked and wanted in TV. Swofford summarized the results as, "We want to be entertained. Then we'll stick around for the message." This led to the creation of the pilot for Granite Flats, which became BYUtv's first and flagship original scripted television drama series, and went on to significantly expand the channel's audience, eventually attracting about 500,000 viewers per episode, compared to the previous top-rated show, Love of Quilting, which typically drew under 10,000.[13]

Programming

BYUtv produces shows under several categories: BYU Sports, Campus, Documentary, Faith, Family, Lifestyle, People, and Performing Arts.[14] This includes original series, documentaries and religious service programs.

BYU Sports

The channel is the primary home for most telecasts of BYU Cougars athletics, including select home and away games for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, gymnastics, men's and women's volleyball and women's soccer. Beginning in 2009, the network also began covering BYU-Hawaii sports, including all conference home games in women's volleyball and men's basketball, as well as select conference home games in women's basketball and additional non-conference home games for men's basketball.

In 2011, BYUtv added the WCCMen's and Women's Basketball Tournaments to their sports broadcasts. BYUtv produced the first round and quarterfinals of the men's and women's basketball tournaments, which were also broadcast on ESPN3.com.[15]

Additionally, the network launched a separate website for its sports coverage, Byutvsports.com, in partnership with ESPN and IMG College. The site features news, video and free video on demand streaming of recent games.[19]

The channel also produces its own sports shows including BYU Sports Nation (daily, 1 hr), Countdown to Kickoff (preceding each football game, 1 hr), Postgame Show (following each football game, 30m – 1 hr), After Further Review (weekly on Tuesdays, 1 hr), and carries Bronco Mendenhall's post-game press conferences for football games.

Availability

The network is currently available to approximately 65 million[20] cable and DTH (direct-to-home) satellite subscribers in the United States. It is provided by nearly 600 cable operators around the United States.[21]

In 2011, live streaming of BYUtv as well as on demand programs were made available through the iPad, iPhone, iPod and Roku streaming player.[22][23] In August 2013, BYUtv released its app for Android.[24] In April 2014, BYUtv released its app for Xbox 360.[25] In 2015, BYUtv released its apps for Chromecast, FireTV, and Fire tablets and phones.[26][27][28]